Manchester, Maryland.

July 1^st 1863.

                                   

Dear Sister.

                 There is a mail going this morning at ten oclock, the first that has been sent away since a week ago to day, so I will write a few lines so you may know what we are about. We left Fairfax Court House one week ago today and marched to Centreville where we camped outside the fortifications. the next day the troops garrisoning the place moved away and we moved in with the expectation of remaining there some time, but after we had gone to bed orders came to have everything ready to march at two oclock in the morning. We marched at seven and camped at / Drainesville for the night. the next morning we started early, crossed the Potomac about noon on pontoons (seventy) and that night slept near Poolesville, Md. Sunday we were at it again bright and early we passed through Bondsville on the road we travelled over last year to Antietam, wound around the base of the old Sugar loaf Mountain and camped at night in Urbanna. Monday morning we started early passed through Monrovia and halted in New Market about noon where we rested two hours. We then took the "National road" leading to Baltimore, a nice road. we marched to Ridgeville six miles by the milestones in two hours, then turned to the left towards Westminster and halted at midnight in Jenrville having marched since noon seventeen miles and since morning twenty four. Yesterday we got into Westminster at one oclock and rested an hour then pulled on for this place where we halted and have not / moved since. I do not think any one can find fault with Sedgwick for moving slowly if they do with the Army of the Potomac. I believe we can lick the rebels easier alone than to be lumbered down and bothered with the whole army. It has been rainy all the time since we started on the march. every thing we have got is soaked through with water, and there is no prospect of ever getting a chance to dry anything. It has not rained fast but it has kept wet so long that we are about as heavy as though we had been dipped in water. This country seems like a perfect Paradise to what we have been in. The people seem like our folks at home. they are as different from Washington folks as Washington folks are from Mass folks. As we passed through W. yesterday they brought out everything they had cooked and gave to us, and said they wished they had known we were coming so they could have set up all night and cooked for us. /

 

There is no end to the cherries here trees all along the roads in the fields and in the woods. they are most all like ours at home, but there are some of the big kind that you would have to take two bites at. We are on the direct road now to Little York, Pennsylvania and only about six from the State line. It was said yesterday that was where we were going. I guess we shall get into Mass yet before its over. The rebel Cavalry are ahead and behind us. they left Westminster only an hour or two before we entered. they had a little fight in the streets. Two rebel lieutenants lay dead in a house in the place as we passed through.

Your letter came through rather sooner than it usually does. it came to me Wednesday night with the paper and so on tea I have not drank it yet. My health was never better than now my back has got sore by carrying a knapsack. thats all the mutter there is with Hannah. If we keep marching at this rate you may keep a look out up towards Nixon's for the head of our column. Lowell C Cook.

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